Rams surge to top of NFC, blowing out Bucs for 6th straight win
Less than an hour before the Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicked off on Sunday, fans at SoFi Stadium erupted in cheers.
Watching the giant video board, the crowd celebrated as the Philadelphia Eagles blew a huge lead and lost to the Dallas Cowboys.
This collapse of the defending Super Bowl champions allowed the Rams to rise to the top of the NFC.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford continued his MVP-caliber play by throwing for three touchdowns, and the defense also produced some big moments as the Rams rose to the occasion with a 34-7 victory that extended their winning streak to six games and improved their record to a conference-best 9-2.
This makes the Rams the current No. 1 seed for the NFC playoffs.
It’s not that coach Sean McVay was celebrating.
“Remember who was in first place with six weeks to go last year? McVay said. “Me neither.”
Yes, there is still a long way to go. And the Eagles hold the tiebreaker against the Rams thanks to their Week 3 win in Philadelphia.
But if the Rams maintain sole possession of first place and secure home-field advantage, they would avoid another potential January trip to Lincoln Financial Field to face the Eagles, who eliminated the Rams there in the NFC divisional round last season.
“It feels good,” edge rusher Jared Verse said of being No. 1 in the NFC, “but it’s what we expected.”
Rams tight end Davis Allen catches a pass in the second half against the Buccaneers on Sunday.
(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)
The Rams play at Carolina next week, then at Arizona before returning to SoFi Stadium for another NFC showdown against the Detroit Lions. The Rams finish the season with a Thursday night game at Seattle, a trip to Atlanta and a home game against the Cardinals.
So the biggest question for McVay and the Rams: Are they peaking too soon?
Despite being without veteran tight end Tyler Higbee, right tackle Rob Havenstein and safety Quentin Lake — all placed on injured reserve last week — the Rams looked nearly unstoppable on offense in the first half and dominant on defense throughout.
The Rams scored at least 34 points for the fourth time in five games. Stafford threw two touchdown passes to Davante Adams and one to tight end Colby Parkinson, bringing his league-leading total to 30, with just two interceptions. Stafford hasn’t had a pass intercepted in eight games.
On Sunday, the 17th-year pro completed his first 12 passes and finished 25 of 35 for 273 yards, with the crowd chanting “MVP” after each of his final two touchdown passes.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw three more touchdown passes Sunday against the Buccaneers, giving him a league-leading 30.
(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)
“I just know I’m having fun,” Stafford said.
Adams too.
After lamenting his performance in last week’s 21-19 win over the Seahawks, the 12th-year pro was happier after catching five passes for 62 yards and increasing his league-best touchdown total to 12.
After his second touchdown Sunday, Adams ran down a tunnel, much like former Raiders running back Bo Jackson once did.
“I arrived at the 405 [freeway]” Adams joked.
On a night where the Rams honored future Hall of Fame defensive lineman Aaron Donald with a bobblehead giveaway and other tributes, Verse and defensive end Kobie Turner each had two sacks.
Before the game, Verse said the defense wanted to “put on a show” for Donald.
“I feel like we definitely did it,” he said.
Rams linebackers Jared Verse, left, and Josaiah Stewart, center, and defensive end Kobie Turner celebrate in the first half.
(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)
A secondary that intercepted four passes against the Seahawks picked up two more, with cornerback Cobie Durant returning one for a 50-yard touchdown and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. catching a desperation heave on the final play of the first half.
Durant thanked the defensive line.
“They make our lives easier in the background,” Durant said. “Every play, they’re on the quarterback.”
The Rams’ special teams, which cost the team dearly in losses to the Eagles and San Francisco 49ers, appear to be functioning effectively since kicker Harrison Mevis replaced Joshua Karty and veteran Jake McQuaide supplanted Alex Ward as snapper.
After Mevis scored only extra points in his first two games, McVay finally gave him field goal opportunities and Mevis converted field goals of 40 and 52 yards.
“Stay relaxed, enjoy it, and just get it through the uprights,” Mevis said of his mindset.
The Rams ruined Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s return to the stadium where he resurrected his career in 2022 by leading the Rams to a last-second victory over the Las Vegas Raiders with just two days of practice.
Mayfield suffered a left shoulder injury and did not play in the second half. He completed nine of 19 passes for 41 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions.
It all added up to a convincing victory for the Rams.
And here’s a scary thought for the rest of the NFL: The Rams are on track to get stronger as time goes on.
Wide receiver Tutu Atwell is eligible to return from injured reserve next week. Closer to a return is cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who suffered a broken collarbone in the second game of the season. And McVay said Higbee and Havenstein could be back in four games and Lake could return for the playoffs.
These reinforcements would be a desirable situation for any Super Bowl contender in the NFC.
Especially the one currently on top.
